Switch 2 in 2027: five Nintendo exclusives are already dated
Metroid Ravenous opens 2027 on January 28, with Kirby, Xenoblade Genesis, Pokémon Winds and Waves and The Duskbloods behind it. Here is the Switch 2 slate.
Nintendo's Switch 2 has at least five exclusives lined up for 2027, starting with Metroid Ravenous on January 28. Kirby and the World Beyond, Xenoblade Genesis, Pokémon Winds and Waves and the delayed The Duskbloods round out a first-party calendar that answers the console's biggest criticism so far.
The first-party slate
Year one of Switch 2 drew steady complaints about a thin run of new exclusives. The 2027 line-up reads very differently.
- Metroid Ravenous (January 28): Samus goes back to the classic 2D side-on format, following her 3D outing in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
- Kirby and the World Beyond (spring): a 3D adventure that gives Kirby an open world to explore for the first time.
- Xenoblade Genesis: a fantasy RPG positioned as a fresh start for the series, built around mastering magical powers in a huge world.
- Pokémon Winds and Waves: an open island world, with exploration that reaches underwater.
- The Duskbloods: FromSoftware's Switch 2 exclusive, now slipped to the first quarter of 2027.
That is a Nintendo-only release every few months, across platformer, action, RPG and creature-collector genres, which is exactly the spread the console lacked in its launch window.
Third-party RPGs pile on
The bigger shift may be third-party support. Final Fantasy VII Revelation, Persona 4 Revival, Persona 6 and Kingdom Hearts IV are all expected on Switch 2 next year, along with Resident Evil Veronica. For players across Southeast Asia, where Japanese RPGs have a huge following and many fans game handheld on the commute, a portable route into those releases is a strong reason to upgrade.
The Mario question
The one name missing is Mario. Nintendo insider NateTheHate has suggested a new 3D Mario could land in 2027, possibly a follow-up to Super Mario Odyssey, which arrived on the original Switch in 2017. Nintendo has confirmed nothing, so treat it as a rumour until a Direct says otherwise.
Even without a plumber, five dated or windowed exclusives plus a stack of major RPG ports makes 2027 the year Switch 2 owners stop waiting for games. Dates outside January are still loose, so expect the order to shuffle as Nintendo fills in its calendar.
Source: Notebookcheck; Nintendo.
